Matt Silverstein in 2014 OK Senate debate


On Immigration: Opposes housing refugee immigrants in military facilities

Today Senator Jim Inhofe was forced to face his flip-flop on immigration when questioned about his 2008 vote to house immigrants in military facilities. Recently, Inhofe has sharpened his attacks on the practice of using U.S. military installations to house immigrant children who are fleeing violence and exploitation. Only today was he forced to come clean that he had indeed voted for the law that put them in those military facilities.

Contrary to his previous position, Inhofe now purports to see a host of ills stemming from the protection of these compromised children. "Senator Inhofe was part of the problem that created this situation in the first place, and now he is running and hiding from his own vote as a U.S. Senator," said Matt Silverstein, Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate. "What Senator Inhofe is failing to tell voters is that the law he voted for is the real cause of this border crisis."

Source: 2014 Oklahoma Senate campaign website, MattForOklahoma.com Jul 22, 2014

On Government Reform: Not a dime from any lobbyists in campaign donations

Sen. Jim Inhofe banked nearly $787,000 for his re-election campaign from July through September, while Democratic challenger Matt Silverstein topped $100,000 in his first full quarter of fundraising. The senator's haul included more than $152,000 from political action committees.

"We still have over a year to go and we will continue to gain steam," Silverstein said in a statement. "We're also proud we haven't taken a dime from any lobbyists."

Source: The Oklahoman on 2014 Oklahoma Senate debate Oct 25, 2013

On Civil Rights: Firm support of marriage equality for gays and lesbians

Matt Silverstein this week was in Oklahoma City where he met with the Cimarron Alliance, an LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) advocacy organization.

Silverstein expressed his firm support of marriage equality for gays and lesbians. "I will not be on the wrong side of the civil-rights issue of the day and that is marriage equality," he said.

Source: RedDirtReport.com coverage of 2014 Oklahoma Senate race Aug 13, 2013

On Civil Rights: Grandmother beaten for speaking her native Choctaw language

Noting his Choctaw grandmother, Silverstein said her stories of being thrown into a government boarding school and beaten if she spoke her native language, taught him that government can't be allowed to get too big or too powerful, while also helping him recognize the importance of supporting the 2nd amendment's right-to-bear arms.
Source: RedDirtReport.com coverage of 2014 Oklahoma Senate race Aug 13, 2013

On Crime: Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act

Silverstein noted his support of women's issues, an issue where Inhofe falls short. "He was one of only five senators who opposed reauthorizing the Violence Against Women's Act," he said, adding that equality for women in the military is also not high on Inhofe's list.
Source: RedDirtReport.com coverage of 2014 Oklahoma Senate race Aug 13, 2013

On Government Reform: Inhofe says he's for term limits, but was in for 26 years

As Silverstein spoke about Inhofe, it was increasingly clear that he was painting him as an unprincipled "creature of Washington" whose seemingly self-serving principles are troubling to voters, while at the same time being increasingly out of touch with the everyday needs of 21st century Oklahomans.

"Jim Inhofe has been on the taxpayer's payroll since 1967," noted Silverstein. "He is now asking for 26 years in the US Senate, the entire time saying he supports term limits for politicians."

Source: RedDirtReport.com coverage of 2014 Oklahoma Senate race Aug 13, 2013

On Gun Control: Support the 2nd amendment's right-to-bear arms

Noting his Choctaw grandmother, Silverstein said her stories of being thrown into a government boarding school and beaten if she spoke her native language, taught him that government can't be allowed to get too big or too powerful, while also helping him recognize the importance of supporting the 2nd amendment's right-to-bear arms.
Source: RedDirtReport.com coverage of 2014 Oklahoma Senate race Aug 13, 2013

The above quotations are from 2014 Oklahoma Senate debates.
Click here for other excerpts from 2014 Oklahoma Senate debates.
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Page last updated: Dec 06, 2018